News Releases
Small Brewery Tax Bill Would Create Jobs, Open Markets
Washington, D.C. - Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) today introduced legislation to reduce the beer excise tax for America's small brewers. The Brewer's Employment and Excise Relief (BEER) Act will help create jobs at more than 1,600 small breweries nationwide, which collectively employ nearly 100,000 people. Idaho and Massachusetts are home to dozens of small breweries. "Like any private business, craft brewing is all about supply and demand," said Cra… Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
Crapo, Johnson Introduce Bill to End Shortfall of Veterinarians in Rural Areas
Washington, DC-U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) today continued their efforts to end the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas by introducing the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act of 2011 . The bipartisan bill would help meet the growing demand for veterinarians nationwide by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas. This legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption… Continue Reading
March 08, 2011
Crapo: Congress Fiddles While Nation Burns
Washington, D.C. - The debate on Capitol Hill reflects a contrast this week, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo: as Senators debate short-term spending bills to keep the government running, they may be ignoring the bigger picture posed by the growing $14 trillion in debt. Crapo joined the chairmen and members of the President's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform for two presentations today, on Capitol Hill and broadcast on C-SPAN, to urge members of Congress to address more th… Continue Reading
March 07, 2011
Crapo Office Travels to Greenleaf, Mountain Home, Idaho City, Caldwell
Boise - To better assist Idahoans with questions and issues concerning federal agencies and policies, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's office is increasing its presence in Southwestern Idaho cities. Crapo's staff has begun a regular rotation of remote office hours on behalf of the Senator across the southwest part of the state. Crapo's Regional Director Bryan Ricker will travel to a number of southwest cities and counties on a rotating basis each month. This month, Ricker will be in Boise, Cany… Continue Reading
March 07, 2011
Crapo Seeks to Rein in Energy Prices
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has co-sponsored two bills that seek to put the brakes on gas price hikes by increasing domestic oil production in Alaska and offshore, and by stopping anticipated tax increases related to increased federal regulations. The No Cost Stimulus Act expands U.S. oil production and seeks to lower prices by easing permitting prices for production on government properties, off-shore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "Opening ANWR to respo… Continue Reading
March 02, 2011
Senators Recognize Civil Air Patrol Members
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to introduce bipartisan legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) who provided, as civilian volunteers using their own aircraft, extraordinary public and combat emergency services during World War II. Joining Harkin, the Commander of the Congressional Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, and Crapo in introducing the legislation were Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Olymp… Continue Reading
March 01, 2011
Crapo: GAO Report Shows Immense Duplication in Federal Programs
Washington, D.C. - A new report from the federal government's General Accounting Office (GAO) is fueling the fires for renewed efforts to reduce spending on Capitol Hill, says Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. The GAO report, requested by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), who is working with Crapo in a bipartisan group of six Senators seeking to implement new deficit reduction plans, clearly shows duplication among the efforts of a number of federal programs. Coburn estimates there may be more than $100 … Continue Reading
March 01, 2011
Crapo is Ranking Member on New Fiscal Responsibility Subcommittee
Washington, D.C. - Furthering his leadership in fiscal and budget reform issues, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will be the lead Republican on a newly-created Senate subcommittee dealing with fiscal, budget and debt issues during the 112th Congress. Crapo has been named Ranking Member of the new Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. As such, Crapo will work with Subcommittee Chairman Bill Nelson (D-Florida) to consider how Congress will address the spending and fisc… Continue Reading
February 28, 2011
Jim McClure Honored on Floor of the U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - Idaho icon and former U.S. Senator Jim McClure was honored today in the Senate Chamber where he spent 18 years working for Idahoans. During a speech on the Senate floor, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo noted McClure's exemplary record of public service to Idaho and the nation, McClure's trailblazing work across the political aisle and the mentor that McClure was for Crapo. Crapo offered this statement in honor of McClure, his wife Louise and the McClure family. STATEMENT HONORING… Continue Reading
February 27, 2011
Crapo Statement on Passing of Senator Jim McClure
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released this statement on the passing of an Idaho legend, retired U.S. Senator James A. McClure: "Jim McClure set a standard for public servants that will endure for generations. His unfailing good will and respect for others, together with his essential western conservatism, are still the best model for how to engage today's public policy debates. "Jim's legacy as a Congressman and Senator is broad and in many issues such as energy and… Continue Reading
February 17, 2011
Crapo, Colleagues Move to Block Internet Regulation Power Grab
Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must be stopped in trying to implement rulemaking that could affect Americans' access to the Internet and stifle innovations that have made the Internet a world-wide base for information and technology. That is the message being sent by a Senate Resolution introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and 38 of his colleagues concerning the so-called "net neutrality" regulations recently approved by the FCC. This action followed similar pre… Continue Reading
February 17, 2011
National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act Introduced
Washington, DC - Congressman Devin Nunes (CA-21) and Senator Mike Crapo (ID) today announced the bi-cameral introduction of legislation that will limit the unchecked Presidential power related to the designation of new national monuments. "The bill that we introduced today will improve the Antiquities Act by limiting the president's unfettered discretion and ensuring a more inclusive designation process," said Rep. Nunes. "This kind of top-down directive is anything but collaborative," Cr… Continue Reading
February 16, 2011
Crapo: Banking Regulators Sacrifice Quality and Fairness In Exchange For Speed
Washington, D.C. - The Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation approved last year by Congress needs careful congressional and public review to ensure it takes into consideration public comments and does not stifle economic recovery, said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee today. Crapo, Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other Republicans on the committee are requesting that regulators implementing Dodd-Frank rulemakings allow for adequate time for mean… Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Crapo: President's Budget Wrong To Ignore Recommendations Of His Own Fiscal Commission
Washington, D.C. - If today's Senate Budget Committee hearing is any indication, President Obama's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget proposal faces strong, bipartisan criticism for its failure to control deficit spending. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the committee, told Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Jacob Lew today that cost-cutting measures proposed by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform should have been included in the President's budget proposal. Crapo,… Continue Reading
February 14, 2011
Crapo: President's Big Government, Big Debt Budget Out of Touch with American Priorities
Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee and the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, released the following statement this morning regarding the President's Fiscal Year 2012 budget, which was delivered to Congress this morning. "The challenges facing our country are great, but there are none greater than the looming financial destruction that we are facing because of rampant federal spending and the seeming inability t… Continue Reading
February 04, 2011
Senators Move to Block Implementationof Obama Health Law Pending Lawsuit Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the wake of the second consecutive federal court decision finding the individual mandate provision of the Obama health care law unconstitutional, a group of senators led by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), are working to place a moratorium on any further implementation until there has been final judicial resolution in the pending lawsuits challenging the law. S.281, the Save our States Act, was introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and is cosponsored by Sen… Continue Reading
February 03, 2011
Flood Mapping Flaws Bring Broad Response
Washington, D.C. - Problems with the way the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts federal flood mapping have resulted in a broad-based, bipartisan call for change that straddles state and federal jurisdictions. Twenty-seven members of the U.S. Senate, a considerable bipartisan group pointing out the importance of the issue, have joined with Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch in a letter to FEMA officials calling for changes in the way federal flood plain maps are drawn. Outda… Continue Reading
February 02, 2011
Crapo: Repeal Health Law, Reduce the Deficit
Washington, D.C. - The Senate missed an opportunity today to make a bold commitment to reducing the recently-announced $1.5 trillion national deficit in 2010 and the nation's skyrocketing national debt by repealing the massive health care reform law enacted last year, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. A member of the Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over health care, Crapo today supported a move in the Senate to repeal the law and noted it would cost more than $2.5 trillion over t… Continue Reading
February 02, 2011
Military, Family, Business Relationship Encouraged in Bipartisan Bill
Washington, D.C. - New federal legislation to strengthen the relationships between military families and their employers has been introduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). The "Military Family-Friendly Award" is designed to encourage employers to create a work environment that is friendly to military families and recognize those that already make this effort. "Employers need to know that Congress encourages them to assist working spouses and caregivers of m… Continue Reading
February 01, 2011
Crapo Office Travels to Payette, Weiser, Marsing, Murphy
Boise - In an effort to make it easier for Idahoans to reach out to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's office, Crapo's staff is conducting more remote office hours across southwestern Idaho. Crapo's Regional Director Bryan Ricker will travel to a number of southwest Idaho counties on a rotating basis each month. This month, Ricker will be in Payette, Washington and Owyhee counties, and can assist Idahoans with any questions or problems related to federal agencies and federal programs. "The input of I… Continue Reading
